PRODUCER MICHAEL FRANKLIN TALKS ABOUT ROBBY STEINHARDT'S POSTHUMOUS SOLO ALBUM 'NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE' EXCLUSIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW WITH RAY SHASHO

 

NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE

A PROG OPERA

By ROBBY STEINHARDT

PRODUCED By MICHAEL FRANKLIN

Featuring an all-star cast 

of legendary music artists

Exclusive Zoom TV Interview

with Producer MICHAEL FRANKLIN

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH 

IN ITS ENTIRETY

ROBBY STEINHARDT

May 25, 1950  ~  July 17, 2021

You know him as the legendary violinist, vocalist and frontman for the band KANSAS, recording 9 albums which reached gold, platinum and double platinum status, and is now making another mark on the world with his first and only solo album. The new album, Not in Kansas Anymore is a powerful, well thought-out offering of Prog Rock magic.

Timely songs with incredible arrangements and virtuoso performances. Robby’s vocals and signature electric violin come through on this continuous work labeled a “Prog Opera”. In his only interview for the project, he spoke with Bill Shafer of PBS. Steinhardt was asked what the meaning behind the title Not in Kansas Anymore was. Steinhardt responded, “It’s no slight against the band, no never! My time with Kansas defined a big part of my life, of which I am very proud of.

Ever since The Wizard of OZ, those words have become an American axiom for moving forward, you can never go back etc.” Robby laughed, “I guess it has a special meaning when it is fixed to me.” The album, produced by our guest today, Michael Franklin, is his latest production since the highly acclaimed Jon Anderson 1000 Hands Chapter One. Franklin used a similar approach using a large cast of renown musicians to lend their talents. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Steve Morse of Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs, Billy Cobham of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Chuck Leavell of The Rolling Stones, Liberty Devitto (Drummer on Billy Joel’s hits), Jim Gentry, Pat Travers, Patrick Moraz, and many others including Orchestra and Choir. 

Michael Franklin with Robby Steinhardt & Patrick Moraz

The songs provide powerful lyrics, hard to forget choruses, combined with crafty playing. All this combined with Franklin’s lavish and complicated arrangements makes listening to Not in Kansas Anymore a wonderful hour well spent. The stunning album artwork created by Tom Lupo of Magnificent Pictures and subliminal song quotes from the Wizard of OZ, are another added feature to this complex Prog Opera. Currently four videos are in the works. Steinhardt was in a reborn state of mind in the months prior to finishing the record.

with Billy Cobham

He and wife Cindy were looking forward to a new chapter in their lives. He had started rehearsals and was preparing to hit the road in August when he became ill in May. Robby’s musical vision, voice and violin lives on with his first and only solo album, Not in Kansas Anymore! Release was delayed due to Steinhardt’s passing July 17, 2021.

PURCHASE

NOT IN KANSAS

 ANYMORE

A PROG OPERA

BY ROBBY STEINHARDT

PRODUCED BY 

MICHAEL FRANKLIN

Available now at

www.robbysteinhardtofficial.com/album-orders

 www.solarmusic.com

9 NEW SONGS PLUS

The Orchestral Remake of The Classic Hit:

"DUST IN THE WIND"

TRACKS:

TEMPEST, TRUTH 2 POWER, MOTHER EARTH,

RISE OF THE PHOENIX, THE PHOENIX, PRELUDE

DUST IN THE WIND, PIZZACATO, TUCK TUCK,

NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE, A PRAYER FOR PEACE

MUSICAL CAST:

Robby Steinhardt, Patrick Moraz, Tim Franklin,

Chuck Leavell, Tommy Calton, Jim Gentry,

Billy Cobham, Michael Franklin, Liberty Devitto,

Ian Anderson, Matt Brown, Pat Travers,

Pat Gulotta, Rayford Griffin, Christopher Keogh,

Paul Fleury, Olga Kopakova, Les Dudek,

Steve Morse, Jocylen Hsu, Billy Ashbaugh,

Sonny Ferguson, Bobby Kimball, Benoit Lajeunesse

Charlie DeChant, Lisa Fischer, Elodir Germain,

Paul Fleury, Pat Frost, Michelle Mailhot

Steve Walters, Billy Boyd, Brian Snapp,

Davonnda Simmons, Jim Stringer,

The Basel Hayden Singers

 In my wildest dreams, I never thought a project such as this would be possible. I am honored and privileged to have some of the finest players in our business contribute their talents to make it so. I am thankful to restart my career with these exceptional pieces of music written mostly by Michael and Tim Franklin, without them, their encouragement and hard work, this never would have happened.  A lot of love went into the making of this album and when you listen to it I hope you feel moved like we did. My thanks to everyone, musicians and friends alike, who have made my life so much richer than it would have been without them.   And speaking of love… 

Cindy, you're IT.

...Robby

For more information about

MICHAEL FRANKLIN

And

ROBBY STEINHARDT

Visit

www.robbysteinhardtofficial.com

Robby Steinhart official site

www.conventionmusic.com

Michael Franklin official site

www.facebook.com/michael.franklin.1610

Michael Franklin facebook

ROBBY STEINHARDT

Discography

With KANSAS

Kansas (1974)

Song for America (1975)

Masque (1975)

Leftoverture (1976)

Point of Know Return (1977)

Monolith (1979)

Audio-Visions (1980)

Vinyl Confessions (1982)

Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)

SOLO:

Not In Kansas Anymore (2021)

MICHAEL FRANKLIN

Discography

The Movement    Left Silently         1968

Michael Franklin          Future Star          1972

Michael Franklin          Old House 1974

Michael Franklin          Beverly Shores Massacre & other Love Songs   1978

Franklin Brothers         Xmas Treeo         1981

Northern Indiana Choir         Northern Indiana Choir         1982

Michael Franklin          Rivers of The World     1982

Angie Fradocus   Angie Fradocus   1982

Various Artists    Reggae Tribute    1982

Ellen Dolak          Morning Light     1983

Ellen Dolak          Jumpin Up and Down for You        1984

Ron Buffington   The Harmony is Missing        1985

Michael Franklin          Jazz Vein    1984

Lost Weekend     Lost Weekend     1984

Michael Franklin          State of the Art Christmas     1985

Tim Franklin       Honorable Quest          1986

Various Artists    Legends of Rock and Roll      1987

Various Artists    Rock and Roll Palace    1989

Various Artists    Rock and Roll Christmas       1990

Rick Wakeman    Classic Tracks      1992

Various Artists    Beverly Hills 91210       1992

Melanie Safka      Freedom Knows My Name    1993

Melanie Safka      Silence Is King    1993

Patrick Moraz      Windows of Time          1994

Timmy Flaherty Dream of Erin     1994

Rockin Robin      Reruns       1994

Pat Travers          Half Way to Somewhere        1995

Melanie Safka      Beautiful People 1995

Carl Gardner       One Cool Cat       1996

Big Bopper Junior        Legacy of the Big Bopper       1997

Pat Travers          Blues Tracks 2     1998

Jon Anderson      Uzlot (unreleased)        1998

Margarita Medina         Margarita   1998

Melanie Safka      Ruby Tuesday      2000

Various Artists    Black Cat Blues   2000

Rockin Robin      Live on the Radio          2001

Melanie Safka      Beautiful People 2001

Melanie Safka      Summer of Love 2003

Tommy Roe         Salute         2003

Melanie Safka      Shine On    2003

Kristie Deluca      Analyze      2004

Melanie Safka      Moments From My Life         2004

Melanie Safka      Dust In The Wind         2004

Avo Uveszian       Legacy        2004

Doctor Hook        Hookah      2005

Karyn Uvezian     Karyn         2005

Gary Puckett       Gary Puckett's Greatest Hits 2007

Gloria Gaynor      Christmas Presence      2008

Don Orilio When You Gotta Go      2012

Heather Rice       Fingers       2016

Jon Anderson      1000 Hands Chapter One      2019

Randi Paul Insight        2020

Michael and Tim Franklin     Virtual Smorgasborg    to be released 2022

Michael and Tim Franklin     Anahata     to be released 2022

Michael Franklin          Forgotten Secrets         in progress

Tim Franklin       Wow in progress

Robby Steinhart Not in Kansas Anymore         10/25/2021

Michael Winslow          TBA in progress

Jon Anderson      1000 Hands Chapter 2 in progress

Kristie Deluca      Voices in My Head        01/2022

Blues Image         Next Voyage        scheduled release 2022

Fei Peng     Curious      scheduled release 2022

Abigail Hunang   Chick Corea's Children's Songs       scheduled release 2022

MICHAEL FRANKLIN

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

STREAMING at

The Classic Rock Music Reporter

Classic Rock Here and Now

Music Tried and True

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BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

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